The Mercer University Southern Studies Center examines the complex history and culture of the U.S. South.

The center offers an interdisciplinary undergraduate major that studies the region from multiple perspectives including courses in African American studies, English, history, political science, and cultural studies.

The center also offers Southern Semester, a unique opportunity for students from American and international universities to learn about and to experience the people, history, and culture of the U.S. South.

The center hosts the Lamar Memorial Lecture Series, the most prestigious scholarly lectures on southern history, literature, and culture. William L. Andrews, E. Maynard Adams Professor of English at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, gave the lectures in 2014.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) awarded Mercer University's Center for Southern Studies a $500,000 challenge grant to support establishment of an endowment for programming and outreach activities. NEH challenge grants are capacity-building grants, intended to help institutions and organizations secure long-term support for their humanities programs and resources. Through these awards, recipients have been able to increase their humanities capacity and secure the permanent support of an endowment.The $500,000 grant will be matched by $1.5 million that will be raised by the University as part of its recently launched Aspire capital campaign, ultimately establishing a $2 million endowment for the center. To support the fundraising effort, contact Todd Smith in University Advancement.

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